October 4th, 2014 - Saying Good-bye to Great Grandpa

On Louie's actual birthday we traveled down to Maryland to visit with my Grandpa.
Though a sad occasion, it was good to be surrounded by family.  Grandpa passed a few weeks later, which made these moments that much more meaningful.  Good-bye Granddad.  We'll miss you.

Happy Birthday Louie!

We celebrated in Sunset Park, the wonderful hill-top city park a few blocks from our house.  
Lots of good Sunset eats...Chinese dumplings, Middle Eastern pies, and Mexican tamales to name a few.  And, Louie loved his first taste of SUGAR!  Thanks M.Bittman for a killer cake recipe! And thanks to all family & friends who gathered to help us celebrate A Year With Louie! 

First Pizza ~ September 14th, 2014

After a fun stroll through Bensonhurst (old Italian neighborhood in Brooklyn), Louie enjoyed his first pizza pie from Spumoni Gardens!  Ok, he didn't eat an entire PIE, but, he loved his many bites of his classic Sicilian style slice!

Weekend in the country !

Love hanging with Aunt M, Winton, Noah and Bubbie! 

Teeth!

Louie got his two bottom teeth right at 6 months. We've been awaiting the top..and all 4 came in quick succession...he's been teething from June 26 - July 23..surrounding his 9mnth birthday.  And now, all 4 top teeth are through! Here comes an increasingly toothy grin! 

Recap...Months 6-8

My repertoire of Stuff-I-Can-Do is ever-expanding!  Looking back on it, I've been more prone to MOVING than being still.  So, covering ground and sitting happened about the same time for me...sometime in month 7.  

When I was 6 months I loved to twist and roll my way across the floor, but wasn't too interested in sitting still.  By a little past my 7th month, I was pulling myself across the floor real fast and in any direction...and then sitting pretty solidly too.  In the pictures below, I started by the play mat in the back.  Trying to get mom's computer! 

Now that I'm 9 months old (can you believe it?), I still prefer the Rambo style of crawling.  Every now and then I get on all fours and sort of hop forward, but my belly crawl is working, so maybe I won't change it...we'll see!  

Dad had to lower my crib because I started pulling myself up last month..around 8 months.  Now at 9 months I'm doing some walking with hands held and standing and playing at our coffee table -- as long as someone spots me! 

I'm eating lots of stuff - carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, bananas, peas, avocados, oatmeal.  Now that mom's done with school, she's going to start to cook for me - adding in some herbs and spices...I'll let you know how I do!  

I still love cats and dogs and get super excited when I see them.  I like sitting out on our stoop, watching folks go by.  I smile when people say 'Hello' and that usually makes people's day.  Here's one for you!  

Thanks, everybody!

For the past 3 months or so, my aunts and grandmas have been helping mama and papa with watching me when they go to work to earn the big bucks.  It was fun getting to spend time with everyone -- here's a special thanks to them!  Mom and Dad say they felt fine going back to work, knowing I was in good hands.  (The first 2 days were hard for mama, but we made it through).